Genetics Institute

Genetics Institute was a pioneering biotechnology company founded in 1980 by Harvard scientists Mark Ptashne and Thomas Maniatis. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the firm became a leader in recombinant DNA technology, developing a robust portfolio of therapeutic proteins. Key products successfully commercialized include BeneFIX for Hemophilia B, Recombinate for Hemophilia A, and the Infuse Bone Graft. The company is also historically significant for its protracted legal battle with Amgen over the patents for erythropoietin (EPO). In 1996, it was fully acquired by American Home Products, which later became Wyeth and was subsequently integrated into Pfizer. Today, Genetics Institute is recognized as one of the foundational entities that shaped the modern biopharmaceutical industry.